From: b_blumberg@macsch.com (Bryan J. Blumberg)
Subject: GLAAD/LA Media Watch for October 1991
MEDIA WATCH -- BY GLAAD/LA OCTOBER
For the first two weeks in October, Los Angeles witnessed the
largest and most sustained demonstrations since Watts in 1965.
Lesbians, gay men, and their supporters have nightly marched to
protest Governor Pete Wilson's veto of AB101, culminating in a
giant rally in Sacramento on Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day.
You might not have known about these historic events if you
depended only on our local TV news shows and newspapers.
We're MAD at the way KTLA (Ch. 5), except for a few evenings,
ignored the demonstrations, relegating them to a minor
announcement late in the news show, or not covering them at all
some evenings. When they did report about the marches, the focus
seemed to be about the presence or absence of violence.
We're GLAD that some stations, KCAL (Ch. 9) and Fox's KTTV (Ch.
11) in particular, provided some in-depth and nightly reports.
Ch. 9 broadcast live on a few nights from the rallies, although
we were not pleased when they described the extra police coverage
as costing the taxpayers, as if lesbians and gay men don't pay
taxes. The network affiliates' coverage varied, depending on the
night and the event. KNBC (Ch. 4) seemed more concerned about
Liz's wedding and a feature on dogs than on reporting about the
Sacramento march. KCBS (Ch. 2) had an exclusive story about two
gay men who were beaten by a cab driver during one of the
demonstrations in Los Angeles, and opened their late news for
several days in a row about the continuing street marches. Their
coverage of Sacramento, however, was uneven.
None of the stations, with the possible exception of KCAL which
has a three-hour news show, provided much background on the
issues facing the lesbian and gay community or reported on
demonstrations in other California cities. Viewers could not
learn very much about job discrimination based on sexual
orientation or the depth of anger many felt after the Governor's
veto. At best, the TV news mentioned the marches, but rarely went
beyond that. We urge you to monitor the coverage carefully and
write or call the news room when you feel we have been ignored or
when the reporting over-emphasizes the violence angle. Encourage them to
do more in-depth stories on issues that lesbians and gay
men face.
Contact KCBS at 6121 W. Sunset, Hollywood 90028, (213)460-3000;
KNBC at 3000 W. Alameda, Burbank 91505, (818) 840-4444; KTLA,
5800 W. Sunset, Hollywood 90028, (213) 460-5500; KABC, 4151
Prospect, LA 90027, (213) 557-7777; KCAL, 5515 Melrose, LA 90038,
(213) 467-5459; KTTV, 5746 W. Sunset, Hollywood 90028, (213) 856-
1000; and KCOP, 915 N. La Brea, LA 90038, (213) 851-1000.
We're MAD at the Los Angeles Times for printing a self-hating,
homophobic op-ed piece by William Dale Jennings, a founder of the
Mattachine Society, on Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day. While
Jennings has a right to disagree with gays and lesbians
protesting for "special rights" and while the Times has the duty
to provide alternative perspectives on its editorial pages, we
are upset not only at the timing of this, but also in the absence
of an alternative perspective about the protests. Jennings feels
that we should all go back into the closet and keep our sexuality
to ourselves.
Throughout the daily protests in the streets of Los Angeles, the
Times' coverage has been uneven. Several front page stories on
the veto and the protests, both in the main section and Metro,
were published during the first two weeks of Oct. However, while
there was some attempt to cover the issues underlying the events
(such as an informative article on job discrimination on Oct. 5
an analysis of the political impact on Wilson on Oct. 1, and a
public opinion poll about the veto), the Times often got facts
incorrect, focused on the presence or absence of violence, and
sometimes ignored the size and importance of the nightly
protests. GLAAD Board Member, Peter Nardi, had lengthy
conversations with four editors at the Times about their
reporting and is trying to arrange a meeting with them. Your
letters to them about their coverage and encouraging them to meet
with representatives from the lesbian and gay community are
important. Write Shelby Coffey (editor) and Craig Turner (Metro
Editor), LA Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053, (800)
LATIMES.
We're GLAD to hear that a lesbian character provides comfort and
emotional support to the Theresa Russell character in Ken
Russell's movie, "Whore" and that Frances McDermond plays a
positive lesbian role in the Demi Moore/Jeff Daniels film, "The
Butcher's Wife."
We're MAD at radio station KBBT, which bills itself as "92 FM The
Beat." They provided a disconcerting exchange on Aug. 20 in which
deejay John London discussed the outrageous things people do for
money. He asked listeners if they would murder someone if they
could get $1 million out of the deal, then asked if they would
have passionate sex with someone of the same sex for $10 million.
By Mr. London's standards, apparently, lesbian and gay sex is 10
times more heinous than killing another human being. Send your
thoughts on this outrageous comment to Jimmy de Castro, Station
Manager, KBBT, 6735 Yucca Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90028.
We're GLAD that the current Al Pacino/Michelle Pfeiffer movie,
"Frankie and Johnny," includes some of the most accurate and
positive portrayals of gay people we've seen in some time. In a
script by Terrence McNally, who also wrote "Andre's Mother" and
"The Lisbon Traviata," the movie includes a gay man and his lover
as Pfeiffer's neighbors. They have some of the best lines in the
film and, at one point during a montage of couples holding each
other, they are seen in bed with arms wrapped around each other.
Let producer and director Garry Marshall know how important it is
to see gay characters in movies. Write Marshall at Paramount
Pictures, 5555 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles 90038, (213) 956-5000.
This column, written by members of the LA chapter of the Gay &
Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, appears each month in
Lesbian News and Frontiers. Call out hotline at (213) 931-9429
(931-9GAY) for information about our next general meeting, the
fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Temple Beth Chayim
Chadashim (6000 W. Pico), and to report media coverage about
lesbians and gays. Please send us copies of your letters to the
media. Write GLAAD/LA, P.O. Box 931763, Los Angeles 90093-1763
and receive our monthly newsletter. Donations and membership dues
to GLAAD/LA are tax-deductible.
---
RON BUCKMIRE, 11 Colvin Circle, Troy, NY 12180-3735. "1991: YEAR OF THE QUEER"
vox:(518)-276-8910 fax:(518)-276-6920 buckmr@rpi.edu buckmr@rpitsmts.bitnet
"If you were happy every day of your life you wouldn't be a human being ,you'd
be a TV Game Show host." - Veronica Sawyer, "Heathers".